Packaging method and means



Jan. 11, 1944. E. DREYER PACKAGING METHOD AND MEANS Filed May 24, 1940 6 9L INVENTO li/ereffles'lz'efir Z15 ATTO EY.

Patented Jan. 11, 1944 PACKAGING METHOD AND MEANS Everett Leslie Dreyer, Chicago, Ill., assignor to A. B. T. Manufacturing Corp., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application May 24, 1940, Serial No. 336,923

2 Claims.

Thisinvention relates to the packaging arts and has as its principal object the provision of a method and means for packaging small round objects or objects of relatively uniform dimen: sion and shape in tubular cartridges.

More particularly stated, it is an object of the invention to provide a method and means for packaging shot, such as B-B shot, in elongated tubular cartridges.

The means contemplates the provision of a tubular loading container provided with an integral scoop portion extending coaxially of the remaining tubular portions and formed preferably by cutting away a side portion of the latter whereby the loading container may be scooped into a supply of spherical objects or shot to fill the tubular portions thereof with a predetermined number of objects or shot, one end portion of the tubular loading container preferably being blocked so that by properly tilting the same, the objects or shot may be held therein.

lhe packaging means includes a tubular cartridge of a size adapted to telescope into the tubular loading container over the spherical objects therein, the cartridge being of approximately the same length as the tubular portions of the loading container so as to hold the predetermined number of objects or shot contained in the latter, and the telescoped cartridge and container being inverted to cause the objects or shot to remain in the cartridge, whereupon the latter may be withdrawn.

The method of the invention contemplates the serial alignment of the spherical objects in an elongated loading container open at one end and of a diameter larger than the objects, and the insertion into the loading container of an elongated packaging cartridge also open at one end, whereby to include the objects within the cartridge, thereafter withdrawing the cartridge and objects contained therein and closing oif the open end of the cartridge to prevent the escape of the objects.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relate to certain details of the method as well as the construction realized by the practice thereof, as exemplified in the annexed drawing, taken in view of the specification, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective illustration of the use of the loading scoop in the first step of the method;

Fig. 2 is a perspective of the scoop illustrating the second step of the method wherein the excess of objects are cleared from the scoop;

Fig. 3 is a sectionalized perspective of the third step of the method wherein a tubular cartridge is inserted in the loading container over the spherical objects in the latter;

Fig. 4 is a cross section to enlarged scale through the tubular chamber portions of the loadin container after the packaging cartridge has been inserted at the conclusion of the operation of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective of the next step of the method wherein the loaded cartridge is withdrawn from the loading device;

Fig. 6 is a perspective fragment illustrating the last step of the method wherein the open end of the cartridge is closed off;

Fig. '7 is a sectional fragment analogous to the showing of Fig. 6, showing the manner in which the cartridge is sealed by peening the open end thereof.

The method and means of the invention is intended primarily for use in loading spherical objects, such as 13-13 shot, into tubular cartridges adapted to be used in an air gun or the like. However, it is to be understood that the invention is adapted to other uses, for example, in the packaging of any spherical object such as candies, pills, bearing balls, beads and the like, and the disclosure is to be regarded as embracing all analogous applications.

In the practice of the method, a loading tool such as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is employed to collect a predetermined number of the objects to be loaded, this being the first step of the method and the tool comprising a tubular container Iii having a portion of its sidewall extending from one axial end cut away in the direction of its length to provide a semi-tubular integral scoop portion ii. The tool need not be cylindrical in its outer surface configuration so long as it is of generally elongated form with an approximately tubular bore aligned with a scoop portion analogous to the .portion 1 l.

Preferably one end portion I2 of the loading tube is closed oii or blocked by means of a crosswise pin [3.

A package or cartridge suitable for use with the loading tool is preferably in the nature of a tube l4 (Fig. 3 or 5) constructed of spirally wound paper, which may be provided with a stopping shoulder i5 at one end, useful in seating the cartridge in an air gun such as shown in my copending application, Serial No. 312,881. The outer end portion N5 of the cartridge is peened or reduced to prevent escape of the cartridges, the opposite or inner end ll being open prior to loading. The inner diameter of the paper cartridge is fairly close to the diameter of the shot, so that the latter are firmly but yieldably held in the cartridge, and the outer diameter of the shoulder portion I5 is tolerably less than the inner diameter of the tubular loading portion In on the tool, so that the cartridge may move readily into and out of the latter.

In the practice of the method, the operator may seize the loading tool in the manner illustrated in Fig. l and scoop a quantity of the shot 18, contained in the troughlike bin I9, into the scoop portion 6 i and thereafter will tilt the scoop portion upwardly to lower the tubular chamber portion 5 53 into the position shown in Fig. 2, with the result that any excess shot Isa will fall from the elevated scoop portion l l with the requisite number of spherical objects or shot remaining in the portion iii.

The operator next inserts an empty cartridge M, with its open end I! foremost, into the tubular chamber portion Iii of the loaded tool in accordance with the illustration of Fig. 3, so as to Work the cartridge over the shot 18b, the cartridge fitting almost entirely into the tubular portion it], as illustrated in Fig. 4. In this condition, the loading tool is tilted in the opposite direction as illustrated in Fig. 5, so as to cause the now loaded cartridge to gravitate therefrom, the operator pressing the open end portion ll of the cartridge against a suitable sealing tool, in this instance a rotating peening head it, in the manner shown in Figs. 6 and 7, so as to peen over portions l'ia at the open end of the tube and,

in effect, seal the shot therein.

The various advantages and objects of the invention may be accomplished by modifications of the particular method and embodiment specifically described herein, and it is intended that the appended claims shall include all equivalent arrangements and methods fairly coming Within their call.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of loading pellets into a tubular container in serial alignment, wherein the tubular container is closed at one end and open at the other end, comprising the steps of directing the pellets into a tube in serial alignment, inserting the tubular container into said tube With its open end foremost so as to envelope the pellets in said serial alignment in said tubular container, removing said tubular container with the pellets now confined therein from said tube, and then crimping the open end of the tubular container to obstruct exit of said pellets therefrom.

2. Means for loading pellets into a container comprising a loading tool having a tubular portion open at one end and being of substantial length to receive pellets to be loaded in the container, means closing the opposite end of the tubular portion, and a semi-tubular scoop at the open end of said tubular portion for scooping up and directing pellets into said tubular portion and being of a length to receive a number of pellets substantially corresponding to the number received in the tubular portion, said container being guided in the tubular portion by said scoop 5 to envelop the pellets in said tubular portion.

EVERETT LESLIE DRE-YER. 

